We are glad that you have decided to face the most challenging exam in the country, the Common Admission Test (CAT), and aim to secure a seat in some of the most reputed institutions like Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), among other MBA institutes. Kudos to you for making this tough choice.

Comprehending the CAT exam pattern is similar to knowing the route before you start a marathon. It helps you plan better, effectively schedule your preparations, and reach your end goal. So, here is everything you must know about the format and pattern of the upcoming CAT exam:

Overview of the CAT Exam Structure

Talking about the basics, the CAT exam typically has three main sections:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)  

This section aims to evaluate your reading and comprehension skills. This section judges your capacity to interpret and analyse twisted texts. You will find comprehensive passages from different domains such as science, humanities, and social sciences. They will also assess your vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills. Here’s a pattern breakdown of this section for your reference:

• Number of questions: 24
• Weightage: 72 marks

2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

This section will test your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You will receive information in different forms, such as tables, graphs, and charts, and you will have to analyse it to respond to the problems provided. Questions on logical reasoning will test your capacity to think logically and recognize patterns. Here’s a pattern breakdown of this section for your reference:

• Number of questions: 20
• Weightage: 60 marks

3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

This section tests your mathematical skills across topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data interpretation. The sums can vary from basic calculations to intricate problem-solving questions.

• Number of questions: 22
• Weightage: 66 marks

Overall, the question paper will have 68 questions that will be a mix of MCQ and non-MCQ, and it will carry 204 marks.

Marking Scheme 

Now comes the tricky part: the marking scheme. Unlike a marathon, here you will be judged on every simple step, not just the end goal. This means there is a positive marking for every right answer and a negative marking for every wrong. Let’s break this down:

In the MCQ section, you will get 3 marks for every correct answer, and for each incorrect response, 1 mark will be deducted. But here is the best part: there is no mark deduction if you skip a question. So, no doing inky pinky ponkeys; just leave the questions you don’t know and move on.

Also, the non-MCQ questions do not have negative markings.

Duration of the Exam

The total duration allocated for the CAT exam will be 120 minutes or 2 hours, which is 40 minutes for each section. However, students with any physical disability (PwD) will get 160 minutes to finish the test, with each section taking 53 minutes and 20 seconds.

The objective of the exam is to assess your aptitude for management studies through an extensive evaluation of verbal, logical, and quantitative skills. The key to cracking CAT is to start practising early, clear your concepts, and indulge in regular practice sessions and mock tests. 

Best of luck on your journey!